Trump Signs Executive Orders Aimed At Helping U.S. Ranchers

On Friday, President Trump signed two executive orders the Administration said are aimed at supporting America’s ranchers and rebuilding the nation’s cattle herd.

The first order direct federal agencies to review protections for gray and Mexican wolves, update compensation for livestock losses from predators, and examine mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef. A second order calls for stronger enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, expanded opportunities for small and regional meat processors, and streamlined meat-inspection requirements. Details on both orders are available below.

We're Working To Increase The Heifer Retention Rate

The USDA also announced plans to enroll nearly one million additional acres in the Grasslands Conservation Reserve Program and expand remote and technology-assisted beef grading.

“While the Biden administration chose to villainize ranching and the rural way of life under the guise of radical environmental mandates, the Trump Administration continues to focus on rebuilding the Great American Cattle Herd,” Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said last week. “For the past 19 months, USDA has worked tirelessly to defend and promote our nation’s ranchers. Through our Beef Plan and the Ranchers First Initiative we are working to continue increasing our nation’s heifer retention rate. Today, the President laid out tools to better equip farmers and ranchers to deal with dangerous predators threatening their livestock, provide more transparency for consumers on where their meat originates, and expand market opportunities while maintaining our world class food safety standards. President Trump is focused on delivering an America First agenda and will do that by continuing to put our Ranchers First.”

What Do President Trump's Executive Orders Say?

"SUPPORTING AMERICA’S RANCHERS"

Combat Predation: American ranchers should be able to protect the cattle they raise.

The Executive Order directs the Secretary of the Interior to determine whether gray wolves or Mexican wolves meet the criteria for delisting or downlisting under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and begin the process of delisting or downlisting them.
The Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture are also directed to update their standards for compensating ranchers for losses due to predators, and to ease authorization for lethal removal when necessary.

Country of Origin Labeling: American consumers deserve clear, honest labels — and country of origin labeling delivers that transparency.

Building on the voluntary Product of USA label, the Executive Order directs the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, to review its authorities related to mandatory country of origin labeling for beef products through new regulations and legislative recommendations.

"PROMOTING FAIR COMPETITION IN LIVESTOCK MARKETS AND EXPANDING MARKET ACCESS FOR AMERICAN MEAT PRODUCERS"

Strengthening Packer Competition: American ranchers deserve fair, competitive markets that reward their hard work, not a marketplace dominated by a handful of concentrated packers.

The Executive Order directs USDA to prioritize investigations into potential violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act and increase enforcement resources and staffing.
The Executive Order also directs USDA to continue close coordination with the Department of Justice and report to the President on current enforcement actions, resource needs, and a plan to strengthen enforcement over the next year.

Expanding Processing and Market Access: Small and regional processors are critical to expanding competition and giving ranchers more options to get their cattle to market without compromising food safety.

The Executive Order directs USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service to expand the Cooperative Interstate Shipment and Talmadge-Aiken programs so more state-inspected meat can cross state lines.
The Executive Order further directs USDA to build a "one-stop shop" and dedicated technical assistance program for small and very small processors and modernize meat inspection regulations to cut unnecessary red tape.

Click Here to learn more about the Administration's plan to rebuild the cattle herd.